The news: Gen Z is reshaping how consumers shop, spend, and stay well—without ever leaving their screens. US Gen Zers record 425 digital actions a month—40.3% more than Gen Xers and 141.5% more than baby boomers, per PYMNTS Intelligence. Our take: Brands should partner with carefully chosen SMEs to expand reach. High social video subscriber counts won’t bring the best ROI if creators aren’t well-versed in what they’re promoting. They should also ensure websites and checkout processes are frictionless. Gen Z wants quick, effortless experiences. Brands that provide those have the best chance to win them over, and other generations will follow their lead.

53% of marketers in North America cite data analysis and insights as the top bottleneck slowing down marketing cycles, according to an April GrowthLoop and Ascend2 survey.

In this podcast episode, we discuss if ‘Summerween’ is here to stay, which retail shopping holiday is most likely to expand, and how all of this affects shopping behavior. Listen to the discussion with Senior Director of Podcasts and guest host, Marcus Johnson, Principal Analyst, Sky Canaves, and Vice President of Content Suzy Davidkhanian.

The trend: In June, we covered how Gen Zers intended to prioritize planning for summer over their financial futures. They said they would return to their finances when summer is over but spend more on nonessentials in the meantime. CIT Bank’s 2025 summer vacation survey reveals they did just that. What this means for banks: As we near the end of summer travel, financial institutions should prepare campaigns that advertise budgeting and savings products that can help their customers get back on track financially. Such products could include high-yield savings accounts, in-app budgeting tools, certificates of deposit, and automated savings features.

The news: Google claimed that its AI summaries do not impact referral traffic from search after a Pew Research report showed that AI Overviews cut the number of users who clicked on links from overall search results by nearly half. Our take: Despite Google’s objections, AI Overviews inevitably harm sites that rely on search results and SEO for visibility. But with AI summaries showing no signs of going away, what matters is how brands adapt. Traditional keyword strategies are no longer sufficient in the age of AI.

The pivot: Warby Parker launched as a direct-to-consumer (D2C) disruptor with a compelling pitch: It would ship up to five frames to consumers’ homes for free, allowing them five days to try them on. But like many of the most-visited digitally native D2C brands, the eyewear company has evolved beyond its online model to include brick-and-mortar stores. With 300 stores and plans to open 45 more this year, including five Target shop-in-shops, the company is sunsetting its home try-on program in favor of in-person visits or its virtual try-on tool. Our take: Retiring its hallmark try-on program marks a pivotal moment in Warby Parker’s evolution from digital upstart to well-established national brand. While the move risks losing some home try-on loyalists, redirecting those dollars toward targeted brand-building and customer acquisition initiatives will likely yield stronger long-term returns.

The news: WPP has taken another hit in earnings, underscoring the current unstable market defined by economic uncertainty.Profits dropped 71% pre-tax in the first half of the company’s financial year, falling to £98 million ($125.2 million), while operating profit fell nearly half (47.8%), reaching £221 million ($282.3 million). Our take: WPP’s profit plunge serves as a wake-up call for agencies to accelerate transformation and prove value beyond media buying. In an AI-dominated landscape, advertisers are demanding more for less.